The Jack C. Davis Observatory (JCDO) is set to host a star party this Saturday, November 23, offering the public a chance to explore celestial bodies such as Saturn, Jupiter, and Uranus. The event will also feature a presentation by JCDO Director Dr. Thomas Herring on "Digital Imaging Devices: What, Why and How." Both activities are free for attendees.
WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe emphasized the value of these events, stating, “We encourage everyone to take advantage of this exceptional community resource.” He praised Dr. Herring and his team for their efforts in making stargazing accessible and educational.
Dr. Herring's presentation is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., with the star party continuing until 11 p.m. In his talk, Dr. Herring plans to discuss the technology behind digital imaging devices used at the observatory, saying, “I'll talk about the sensor chips behind digital imaging, how they work (beware of some quantum mechanics), and what we use at the observatory to capture images.”
Weather permitting, participants will have an opportunity to view various astronomical objects through the observatory’s telescopes during one of the last star parties of 2024. The final event for this year is planned for December 7.
Typically during this season, doors open at 6 p.m., with events running until 11 p.m. The JCDO is located at 2269 Vanpatten Ave., on Western Nevada College’s Carson City campus.